Goju Kai Karate Do  Sydney Australia - Shihans Archived

  Founder : PAUL STARLING  Hanshi  8th Dan - VICE PRESIDENT IKGA

Karate ka who train for approximately 12-15 or even 20+ years under the direction of a Shihan 錬士, Master Instructor, can reach the rank of 3rd Dan  which is Sandan .This ranking leads to the qualification to Shidoin: Assistant Instructor. after which the 4th Dan- Jokyo level may be gained through diligent study. Fifth Dan; 5th Dan 錬士 師範 Renshi Shihan  and above are titles awarded to very few individuals. Usually, recipients of this high grade have devoted the majority of their life time to the study of Budo in various forms, and have made outstanding contributions to the chosen art concerned.  It has been stated that only the most dedicated and tenacious of students will  of 1st Dan- Shodan, the initiation, which is the very first level of the Black Belt ranking system. Only a handful of those will then go on to obtain the grade of 3rd Dan, even fewer will gain 4th Dan Jokyo, however it is from the 4th Dan level of achievement that the few dedicated karate-ka who will eventually gain Master status are chosen. Within this award system is embedded a hierarchical level of seniority regarding Shihan status. The highest of these is the award of the title of Hanshi 範 士 which is usually awarded at 8th; 9th; or 10th Dan level of attainment, and only then to the very most senior members both in age and experience of the Association or Dojo (School). In order of seniority, the title of Kyoshi is the immediate predecessor to the Hanshi and is awarded usually to the most senior members of 7th Dan Kyoushi 教士 or above. 錬士 師範 Renshi Shihan  is the first level within the Shihan title award system and can be gained at 5th Dan, but is usually reserved for those of 6th Dan rank or above. Paul Starling Shihan was graded in Japan in 1995 to 7th Dan Shihan Kyoshi,教士  and then in 2014 to 8th Dan whereby 4 years later in 2018 the title of Hanshi 範 士 was awarded to him by Grandmaster Goshi Yamaguchi after submission of a thesis.

New South Wales & Victoria:
The most long standing Instructors with IKGA Goju Kai Australia are Paul Starling Hanshi as mentioned, 63 years (since 1963) ; Vice President of the International Karate do Goju Kai Association and who trained directly under Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi from the late 1960s. The longest serving Shihan members of the IKGA after Paul Starling Hanshi is Steve Colangelo (1966 circa), Hon. 7th Dan Renshi Shihan of Victoria, with Iwan Pranatio Shihan 7th Dan Kyoshi (1972 circa) who was also a direct student of Gogen Yamaguchi Kaiso from the Honbu Dojo and the Nihon Karate do Senmon Gakko during the 1980s. Both Paul Starling Hanshi and Iwan Pranatio Kyoushi are the only two Instructors from Goku Kai Australia I.K.G.A who were graduates of the Japan Karate do College. Helmut Moldners Shihan 5th Dan Renshi  Shihan - deceased, commenced his training with Paul  during the 1960's then moved to Melbourne where he received the majority of his training in the Victorian Division then returned as a 4th dan whereby he  was the exemplary leader of the North Coast N.S.W branch for many years.
Alexandra Sandie Starling 5th Dan Renshi Shihan , wife of Paul , was an Australian Champion all styles AKF and world WKF -WUKO Medalist and was the teacher of many Kata champions nationally and internationally. Horden Wiltshire is the most recent graduate from Sydney to 5th Dan Shihan , and is currently the head instructor for the South Australian branch whilst Alvaro Martos Shihan Renshi assisted Iwan Pranatio Shihan in the Victorian division and is now in Queensland . Ray Beattie Jokyo received Hon. 5th Dan in recent years.

Western Australia:
Brian Mackie Hanshi is also a very long time senior member of Goju Kai Australia and is now the current Australian Chief Instructor and IKGA Oceania Block Director and has branches throughout Perth and W.A along with many Shihan students.

Former Student Overseas:
Ingo De jong Hanshi 範 士 , (1970 circa) Chief Instructor of European Goju Kai also a Vice President of IKGA and 9th Dan, an Australian citizen and former student of Paul Starling Hanshi.  Please see the links above in order to view profiles of various Instructors who can be found from the SITE MAP.

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SHIHAN INSTRUCTORS Sydney Australia Senior Shihan Instructors -those marked * were graded to Shihan by Grandmaster Gogen Yamaguchi. Paul Starling- Hanshi  範 士 * Profiles of Shihan Members - Students of Paul Starling Hanshi Ingo De Jong- 9th Dan Hanshi now Europe 範 士 * Helmut Moldners- 5th Dan Shihan Renshi  錬 士 師範 * deceased Alexandra Sandie Starling - 5th Dan Shihan Renshi 錬士 師 範  * Horden Wiltshire - 5th Dan Shihan Renshi 錬 士 師 範   Shihans NSW Nth Coast to be updated here - Students of Helmut Moldners Shihan Now North Coast NSW Greg Gunns Shihan Renshi - Originally Sydney Dr Burton Shihan Renshi     Originally Sydney Victorian I.K.G.A. Victorian Country Div. Melbourne Dojo Western Australia Queensland South Australia